Short Film | The Manual
       
     
       
     
       
     
       
     
Awards + Recognition
       
     
Short Film | The Manual
       
     
Short Film | The Manual

ABOUT

In the distant future, James is the last human on Earth. He is raised and protected by a humanoid robot, the Machine, who brings him up on a strange composite religion described in a handheld device called The Manual. The Manual’s teachings fuse aspects of old-world religion and incorporate robots as spiritual beings in the afterlife, alongside and equal to humans.

The man wrestles with loneliness and depression while the search for other humans becomes more and more futile. As his faith in The Manual is shaken, he sets out to test one of The Manual’s core beliefs: reincarnation to the next life in the city of the Creator. What he finds could be described terribly as exactly that.

       
     
The Manual | Teaser Trailer
       
     
The Manual | Release Trailer
       
     
The Manual | Full Film

Role: Writer + Director + Editor

Other Credits:

EP + Producer: Sara Magness

Producer: Stacy Van Ness

DP: Kevin Fletcher

Production Designer: Nate Smith

Costume Design + Build: Melissa DiMartino & Matt Hopkins

Original Music: Kerry Smith

Title Design: Maria Janosko

Location Sound: Jebari Dean

1st AD: Dennis Brenhaug

VFX: Dan Short

Production Manager: Dawn Perkiss

Production Assistant: Phillip McGuigan

Production Assistant: Heather Magness

Awards + Recognition
       
     
Awards + Recognition

BOSTON UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL '19
Boston, MA.

DEEP CUT FILM FESTIVAL '18
Kitchener, Ontario.

INTERROBANG FILM FESTIVAL '18
Des Moines, IA

AWARD: Best Narrative Short

HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL '18
Los Angeles, CA.

SNAKE ALLEY FILM FESTIVAL '18
Burlington, Iowa

AWARD: Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Short

UNDERGROUND INDIE FILM FESTIVAL '18
Apopka, FL.

AWARD: Best Short Film

JUGGERNAUT SCI-FI/FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL '18
Chicago, IL

HYPERDRIVE SCI-FI / FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL '18
Hailsham, East Sussex

NOMINATION: Best Original Soundtrack

13th ANNUAL SUNSCREEN INT'L FILM FESTIVAL
St. Petersburg, FL.

MILWAUKEE TWISTED DREAMS FILM FESTIVAL '18
Milwaukee, WI.

RED DIRT FILM FESTIVAL '18
Stillwater, OK

NOMINATIONS: Best Narrative Short / Best Production Design (NATE SMITH) / Best Actor (JJ JOHNSTON)

HORRORHOUND FILM FESTIVAL '18
Indianapolis, IN.

NOMINATION: Best Actor (JJ JOHNSTON)

10th ANNUAL TRENTON FILM FESTIVAL
Trenton, NJ

5th ANNUAL PASADENA INT'L FILM FESTIVAL
Pasadena, CA.

NOMINATION: Best Short Film

10th ANNUAL GENEVA FILM FESTIVAL
Geneva, IL.

20th ANNUAL SPOKANE INT'L FILM FESTIVAL
Spokane, WA

AWARDS: Best Short Film / Best NW Short / Most Promising Filmmaker

TAMPA BAY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL '17
Tampa Bay, FL.

AWARDS: Best Short Film / Best Sci-Fi Film / Audience Choice Award / Best Short Film Director / Best Visual Effects / Best Supporting Actress

14th ANNUAL ROME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Rome, GA.